February 24, 2012
If we say John, you might say John who? Or Mary; Mary who? Or Jennifer; Jennifer who? However, if we say Oprah, Cher, Madonna, Rihanna, or Beyonce, nobody would ask Oprah who? Cher who? Madonna who? or Beyoncé who?
One sign that a celebrity has made it big is when he or she is well-known by only one name. There are many one-name stars around today.
If someone said Adele Adkins, nobody would be interested, but when people say Adele won her Grammy for Song of the Year at the 54th Grammy Awards, most people whould know who she is.
We tend to forget that some stars known by only one name have last names. Consider these things:
- They have last names on their birth certificates.
- They have last names on their driver's licenses.
- They sign their checks with a last name.
Here are some interesting one-name stars along with their birth name.
- Adele: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins
- Rihanna: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
- Cher: Cherilyn Sarkisian
- Beyoncé: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles
- Madonna: Madonna Louise Ciccone
- Ashanti: Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas
- Jewel: Jewel Kilcher
- Usher: Usher Terry Raymond IV
- Fantasia: Fantasia Monique Barrino
- Seal: Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel
- will.i.am: William James Adams, Jr.
- Prince: Prince Rogers Nelson
- Brandy: Brandy Rayana Norwood
- Mo'Nique: Monique Angela Hicks
- Jay-Z: Shawn Corey Carter
- Oprah: Oprah Winfrey
- Pink: Alecia Beth Moore
- Sinbad: David Adkins
- Twiggy: Leslie Horby
- Lady GaGa: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
- Sade: Helen Folasade Adu
- Liberace: Wladziu Valentino Liberace
- Mr. T: Laurence Tureaud
For pictures and more names, go to Huffington Post.
